Youth, Drivers for Facing Climate Change

Youth, Drivers for Facing Climate Change

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — (21/8/2021) In responding to climate change, the young generation is the cornerstone of Indonesia’s low-carbon development. To support this role, young people can strengthen skills that are in line with green economy principles and collaborate with various parties, including stakeholders and other countries.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati assessed that the catastrophic impact of climate change has become a global challenge that significantly affect human life and humanity.

“I hope that the younger generation can continue to maintain the spirit of changing lifestyles that are more sustainable and fight for Indonesia’s future development by suppressing the production of irresponsible carbon emissions. In this case, the younger generation is the main driving force.” said Sri Mulyani at the Kompas fest conference which was held online by Kompas daily, Friday (20/8/2021).

Therefore, she continued, young people are expected to increase capacity in the field of cutting-edge financing and technology in dealing with climate change. On the website of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate finance refers to local, national, or transnational funding drawn from public, private, and alternative funding sources. This funding aims to support mitigation and adaptation actions that can address climate change.

The document titled “Green Industrial Skills for a Sustainable Future” published by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in November 2020 mentions a number of skills that meet the principles of green work and are related to technology. For example, technical skills that include design, construction, and technology assessment competencies. This capability can be applied in creating environmentally friendly buildings, renewable energy designs, as well as research and development projects that are oriented towards energy saving.

In dealing with the impacts of climate change, Sri Mulyani said, Indonesia needs to work hand in hand through collaboration between generations and between stakeholders, such as the government, the private sector, and academia. Currently, the Ministry of Finance is drafting a fiscal policy for climate change. The state budget, revenues and expenditures (APBN) are important instruments in realizing Indonesia’s participation commitment to jointly avoid the consequences of climate change.

 

 

The Sustainability Principle

In terms of technology-based players, GoTo Group’s Group Head of Sustainability Tanah Sullivan said, the company has integrated the principles of sustainability in every business line.

Sullivan added that, the integration of these principles is manifested in the GoTo commitment 2030 entitled “Three Zeroes” which consists of zero emissions, zero waste, and zero barriers. This commitment is the result of the identification of GoTo’s business areas and the company’s ability to have a significant impact on people’s lives and on the earth.

In achieving its zero emission commitment, GoTo focuses on reducing emissions arising from Gojek’s mobility by transitioning to electric vehicles. Emissions of electric vehicles are 70 percent lower than those of regular gasoline-based transport. This focus is motivated by an internal study, which shows that as much as 95 percent of Gojek’s emissions come from daily mobility.

In line with the principles of environmental economics, Astra’s Environment and Social Responsibility Associate Dewi Paramita said, the company has implemented the “Spirit to Reduce Plastic” program. “This movement is an integrated approach (to the problem of waste) which aims to reduce single-use plastic consumption while educating the public. We are trying to prevent plastic from becoming waste” she said in one of the Kompas fest classes.

Since its launch in February 2020 until May 2021, the movement has reduced the plastic waste by a total of 498.6 tons. Plastic consumption was reduced by 23 tons, reused plastic waste reached 82 tons, and the amount of plastic waste managed by the fostered waste banks was around 393.6 tons.

Source: Kompas Daily. Edition: Saturday, August 21, 2021. Compass Fest Rubric. Page 2.

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